GEELONG recruit Aaron Black hopes the way he plays will complement premiership forward Tom Hawkins in 2017.
The tall forwards met for the first time on Monday, with Black poised to re-ignite what, just two years ago, shaped as a promising career.
Hawkins is a dual premiership player who always seems to have a point to prove.
Black is a fledgling forward who showed his class in 2013-14 when he kicked 59 goals in 43 games.
That was before North Melbourne recruited Jarrad Waite, and Ben Brown emerged inside 50.
It was also before the Kangaroos won nine on the trot to start 2016 as Black played well in the VFL and before an ankle injury wrecked what was left of the season as the Kangaroos' form dipped.
At some point during that period Black began to feel like you do when drying yourself with a wet towel and decided he needed a change to feel fresh again.
"Like any job, sometimes you kind of just get stuck and I just felt I needed a change of environment," Black said.
"A new set of eyes, something to spark me, and as soon as the trade went through I was over the moon. I couldn't believe it."
He arrives at a club desperate for his type, a lead-up forward who can take the second or third best defender.
The Cats lost Shane Kersten and Nathan Vardy during the NAB AFL Trade Period and delisted Mitch Clark so a spot alongside Hawkins is available.
"Hopefully the way I play can really help him, I can create a bit of space for him and lead up the ground and he can stay closer to goal," Black said.
Hawkins looked dangerous close to goal in the qualifying final but the Cats lacked a player like Black to work the ball through so his acquisition on the final day of the trade period for pick 92 was a bonus.
Black hopes to become the player he promised to be once upon a time.
His marking has improved and his frustration at not playing AFL has abated, with the Kangaroos understanding his desire for a fresh start.
"I'm ready to really have an impact at AFL level again," Black said.
"I'm confident that I can do that."
